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Post by rapidfire187 on Feb 8, 2012 20:39:56 GMT -5
When you're in a formal setting?
For example, I was at a church thing a year or so ago, and while we were all sitting around waiting on it to begin, somebody said "I'm hungry" and the entire group burst into laughter. Wtf? That's not a joke, and it's not even a funny natural occurance like a fart.
I also notice it happens at school. If the teacher says anything that's moderately not serious, they're suddenly getting bigger laughs than George Carlin. It happens in church too. The pastor may make a comment like "it was so cold last night I slept with two blankets" and everybody just dies laughing. I think Family Guy even did a joke based on that.
So what gives? Surely those people don't just have such weak funny bones that they'll laugh at just anything. It's like some complex psychology is going on as soon as people enter an area that's somewhat formal.
Anyone else noticed this? Am I nuts for letting it bother me so much?
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Post by Red Impact on Feb 8, 2012 20:44:23 GMT -5
If you're in a situation that you expect to be completely serious, something that isn't serious might catch you off guard enough to get a laugh, even if you wouldn't laugh at it in another situation.
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Post by twiggy101 on Feb 8, 2012 20:45:08 GMT -5
They could be laughing AT them or trying to be nice.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 20:46:26 GMT -5
If you're in a situation that you expect to be completely serious, something that isn't serious might catch you off guard enough to get a laugh, even if you wouldn't laugh at it in another situation. Exactly. I also see it as a way to ease off some tension of the place in question. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2012 20:54:34 GMT -5
If you're in a situation that you expect to be completely serious, something that isn't serious might catch you off guard enough to get a laugh, even if you wouldn't laugh at it in another situation. I'm going to test this theory with a boisterous "I'm horny" at the next church function that I attend. |
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Post by Red Impact on Feb 8, 2012 20:57:01 GMT -5
If you're in a situation that you expect to be completely serious, something that isn't serious might catch you off guard enough to get a laugh, even if you wouldn't laugh at it in another situation. I'm going to test this theory with a boisterous "I'm horny" at the next church function that I attend. Please record this... |
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Post by rapidfire187 on Feb 8, 2012 21:25:18 GMT -5
If you're in a situation that you expect to be completely serious, something that isn't serious might catch you off guard enough to get a laugh, even if you wouldn't laugh at it in another situation. Exactly. I also see it as a way to ease off some tension of the place in question. I guess that makes sense. For some reason I never laugh at those sort of things though. Btw, to clarify about the "I'm hungry" at church. We weren't actually at church, we were at an outdoor thing at night (no, this wasn't the church of satan) and our group was sitting together waiting on the thing to begin. I guess the randomness was kind of funny but the reaction it got was insane. |
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Post by tigermaskxxxvii on Feb 8, 2012 23:01:13 GMT -5
If you're in a situation that you expect to be completely serious, something that isn't serious might catch you off guard enough to get a laugh, even if you wouldn't laugh at it in another situation. Exactly. I also see it as a way to ease off some tension of the place in question. Well Carlin had a bit on (I believe) Class Clown about how it's easy to get laughs in class because there is a natural tension being in a place where you're not supposed to laugh. Also I suggest reading "Ha Ha Ha! He said 'Ha Ha Ha!'" essay by Chuck Klosterman from his book Eating The Dinosaur |
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Bam Neeley
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Post by Bam Neeley on Feb 9, 2012 1:21:28 GMT -5
Was it Scott Steiner who said that?
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Post by Vice honcho room temperature on Feb 9, 2012 1:25:00 GMT -5
Because a group laughing is a bonding technique. Which is why laughter is contagious. And when there is a lot of tension you want to bond to relieve the tension.
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darthalexander
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Post by darthalexander on Feb 9, 2012 8:50:16 GMT -5
I know sometimes that the more serious you need to be the easier it is to crack up and lose it. I always seem to crack up somehow in situations like this. I don't mean to be disrespectful or anything, it's just that the extreme seriousness of the moment makes me laugh.
I could never be an actor because I know I'd be cracking up laughing all the time.
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Post by rapidfire187 on Feb 9, 2012 13:04:31 GMT -5
Exactly. I also see it as a way to ease off some tension of the place in question. Well Carlin had a bit on (I believe) Class Clown about how it's easy to get laughs in class because there is a natural tension being in a place where you're not supposed to laugh. Also I suggest reading "Ha Ha Ha! He said 'Ha Ha Ha!'" essay by Chuck Klosterman from his book Eating The DinosaurVery interesting, I didn't realize Carlin had bit about that. I'll check out that essay too. |
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Urethra Franklin
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Post by Urethra Franklin on Feb 9, 2012 13:12:14 GMT -5
Because a group laughing is a bonding technique. Which is why laughter is contagious. And when there is a lot of tension you want to bond to relieve the tension. Yes, this is exactly it. It's tense and there's expected decorum. People subconsciously need that tension to be broken and want to laugh. |
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Post by tigermaskxxxvii on Feb 9, 2012 13:13:23 GMT -5
Well Carlin had a bit on (I believe) Class Clown about how it's easy to get laughs in class because there is a natural tension being in a place where you're not supposed to laugh. Also I suggest reading "Ha Ha Ha! He said 'Ha Ha Ha!'" essay by Chuck Klosterman from his book Eating The Dinosaur Very interesting, I didn't realize Carlin had bit about that. I'll check out that essay too. I don't know if there's any language in this clip, but since it's Carlin...... (Possible Language) And in the Klosterman essay he mentions a little mix up at a checkout lane in a German supermarket and laughing to break the tension. Which just caused him to be stared at because I guess the Germans aren't big on laughing at akward pauses. |
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